DETROIT — Automakers finished 2011 on the upswing, with strong December sales in the United States and expectations for further growth this year.

For Chrysler, December was the best month in nearly three years, as passenger-car deliveries more than doubled and total sales rose 37 percent. Chrysler’s sales for all of 2011 were up 26 percent.

General Motors reported a 5 percent increase in December and a 13 percent gain for the year.

At the Ford Motor, sales were up 10 percent in December and 11 percent for the year. Sales by Ford’s namesake brand totaled 2.06 million, the most by any automotive brand since 2007.

Each of the three Detroit carmakers gained market share, something they had not all done in the same year for decades. Sales increased for all but one brand based in Detroit, the exception being Lincoln, which Ford is focused on revitalizing this year.

“The year finished on a high note, with industry sales momentum strengthening as the year came to a close,” Ken Czubay, Ford’s vice president for U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a statement. “We saw Ford sales strengthen as well, posting our best December retail sales month since 2005 and closing the year as America’s best-selling brand.”

Only two major carmakers, Toyota and Honda, posted sales declines in 2011. Honda posted a 19 percent drop in December, while Toyota’s sales were essentially flat. Full-year sales for both companies were 7 percent lower.

Each is still working to replenish its dealer inventories, which were decimated by plant shutdowns and parts shortages in the wake of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Toyota executives said they expected inventories to be back to normal by the end of the first quarter.

Nissan, which was affected less severely by the disaster, posted a 15 percent increase for the full year, and its primary brand set a record. The company also reported a record high for December with a 7 percent increase.

Hyundai and Kia each set new records for annual sales, with gains of 20 percent and 36 percent, respectively. Together, the companies, which are affiliates of one another in South Korea but operate independently in the United States, accounted for more than 1 million sales for the first time, surpassing Nissan and nearly topping Honda. For December, sales rose 13 percent at Hyundai and 43 percent at Kia.

Volkswagen reported gains of 36 percent for December and 26 percent for the year, its best since 2002.

For all of 2011, analysts said, the industry sold about 12.8 million cars and trucks, a 10 percent increase from the 11.6 million sold in 2010.

Sales are expected to climb this year as well. The automotive research website Edmunds.com forecast 2012 sales of 13.6 million, while another site, TrueCar.com, expects 13.8 million. Either figure would represent the industry’s best year since 2007, when sales totaled 16.1 million.

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